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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Our table is set and garnished with traditional Thanksgiving turkey and all the trimmings.

We give thanks to our God for bountiful blessings.

After a delicious and ful-filling dinner we visited and shared stories of the past weeks and with expectations for the coming weeks.

Then outside we go to particiapte in a little family competiton, with gifts and prizes to be had by all. The weather outside is terrific. Such a beautiful day with partly cloudy in the low 70's. You can hear the crunch crunch on the fallen autumn leaves as we walk all around.

There is the archery competition. And 4-wheeler riding.

All the outside play worked up the appetite for a light supper of leftovers.A day well spent to renew family ties.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

I give up. I haven't received my Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas Apron swap package. I know things happen and some people can't get it together. But that's ok by me. I'm not one to dwell on others unorganizational skills. I would help if I could, but if I can't, I do my own thing. So I took things into my own hands and made my own Hot Drinks for Hot Mamas Apron.

It's rather quick, simple, and kinda cute. I also made some quick aprons for my girls. Yes it had to be LSU aprons. And the bottom picture is more LSU fabric that I will finish up tonight in aprons! And I know one of these aprons is not of LSU. It is hot peppers fabric. I couldn't resist the remnant fabric and bought it. It was just enough to make 2 aprons - black with red, green, and yellow hot peppers.gin

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Remember my place mats and table runners I had made a few weeks back and posted on? Well, I have a few more made. I seem to can't get away from greens, ivorys, and burgundy colors. And I can't seem to post the pictures here. It just keeps loading loading loading loading and no picture ever shows up. So no pictures. I'll just tell and not show. Maybe that's a good thing because the table runners are gifts for family members. Not Christmas gifts, but just a thinking of you gift. I will be visiting these family members soon and will bring the table runners for you to choose the one you like. I think they are pretty. Some with satin ribbon trim along the edges, some with glassy beads, some with fringe, and some with a satiny lining. I'm going to take most of the day Monday, tomorrow, and finish up a few more. Then no more sewing for me until next year. ! You know there is Thanksgiving and Christmas to do.

Yesterday, we rode into the "city" to eat lunch. While there we did a little shopping. We went in one store which is like a salvage store. All things are new from other stores that have closed down or whatever. But you really have to search thru the stuff to find something you might want. I knew they would have a lot of Christmas decor and such. I found some really nice Christmas tree skirts. Velvety red with gold swirls and a wide green velvet trim. Very nice. I wanted one. As I "dug" through the stash I realized they all had names stitched on them. There was "The Thompson's" printed in gold script. There was "The Johnson's". There was "The Bozeman's". And a few more. But I didn't want to be a common name and husband was not about to buy this. Then there was "The La Ville's". Oh good, I said, We can be "The La Ville"s". I like that name. At 75% off I could live with that name a few weeks. I bought it to the dismay of husband. But I can turn the name to the back and cover it with a pretty wrapped gift. My only other find of the day was a box of 100 bulls eye targets for shooting or archery. There will be another post for what I have in store for these.

I can't seem to load any pictures. It just keeps loading loading and loading and no picture shows up. So my great tree skirt will be for my eyes only.

My must do's this week are to finish my table runners and place mats. I really like them and hope the recipients will like them too. I plan to finish them Monday and Tuesday. Also, I have 2 swap packages I have to get in the mail. They are all packaged and ready to go to the post office. And of course there is Thanksgiving preparations.You will be busy this week, too.Whistle while you work!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The Thanksgiving holiday is almost here. In 8 days most people will be preparing for family and friends, visiting family and friends, and eating the turkey with all the trimmings. We should remember those who are not as fortunate to be able to enjoy the true traditional American Thanksgiving Day. It is a time that we should not only celebrate 1 day out of the year, but everyday should be a day of Thanksgiving, although, not with all the holiday food spread on the family table and family from far and near gathering. But everyday we should be thankful. I like to take a moment of every day just to myself to reflect on being thankful every day for the bountiful blessings we take for granted. Even some mishaps in our lives are really blessings in disguise.

I am thankful for:

my husband and children - for our good health, our memories, our time spent together, our successes and failures

my extended family, parents, sisters and brothers and their families, and in-laws for times spent together during the good and the bad times

our jobs - that we have the ability to work, to have the means to take care of home and family and to provide for our own necessities and wants

each day God gives me. Realizing how precious each day and moment and breath is. And to make the best of each day no matter what it brings.

living in the USA. That we have the freedoms that we have. So many we take for granted but would surely realize it if they were ever taken from us. Special thanks for those in our military, past and present, who make this possible for us.

Of course, Thanksgiving would not be Thanksgiving without family and food around the table. So on this upcoming Thanksgiving Day I will be thankful for everyday of the year and make everyday of the year a day to be Thankful for.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The past few weeks I have completed 2 more quilts. I had one quilt top already put together, but never quilted. So I got busy with getting my batting, lining, new needle and thread together. I set up my quilt frame. I don't have a picture of it in action, but I will make a mental note to take a picture of quilting in progress.

This quilt is very simple. Large squares from my "fabric stash" stripped together with this awesome shiny silky fabric.Can you tell how pretty the stripping is? This is a single bed size quilt.This next quilt,( I must confess), is kind of a "cheater" quilt. Well not kind of, it really is. I found this great piece of fabric. I liked it and bought all there was on the bolt while thinking "my it already looks like a quilt." So with keeping that in mind, I just teamed it up with batting and a coordinating matching sheet for the bottom and quilted it around the pre-printed design. And voila!! an instant quilt.This one was so quick an easy. I will keep my eye open for some ideal fabric to do this again. I have a few more creations to work on in the coming weeks.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Get well to Brandon who has had strep throat for the last few days and get well to Rob who has had pneumonia for the last few days. they both went to the doctor, got shots, prescriptions and have been trying to recuperate for the past few days. They are both back at work today after a very sick last week.

Could it be that early cool morning fishing trip triggered that strep and that pneumonia had been setting in for a while for it to become that bad. Get well soon guys!!

Jennifer and Julie are taking care of their guys.

Trent has his new house up for sale. He hopes to sell quick. We will be there to help him move again!!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Bobbie does Menu Planning Monday every week. And I have faithfully used her menus for the week because I like the same things she cooks, she does all the work for me by giving me the menu, and she makes my life free from thinking about cooking.

But, lately she has made me work a little harder in the kitchen by coming up with my own menus. And this week is no different. She wants us to give her this weeks menu and spill our kitchen secrets. So after you read mine, go to Bobbie's and check her out!

It's only my husband and myself to cook dinner for. All the kids are grown and gone. So the last few years have been different with just the two instead of a house full of kids and their friends.

I just stop at the Piggly Wiggly which is between my work and my house. It's convenient and I now know where everything is. They have some sales but I don't try to shop around. I really do not like to grocery shop. I do clip coupons on occasion, but for some reason they are never with me when I go to the grocery store. I buy groceries about twice a month, but of course more often for fresh bread and milk.

I like to try new recipes and do so when I'm home alone and have plenty of time. I do freeze some meals occasionally. And that's so nice when I have something already cooked and I just have to put it in the oven. We usually eat around 6pm on weekdays and weekends there is no set time just depending where we are and what we are up to.

The only time my husband helps in the kitchen is when he cooks outside - like fish, something on the grill or frying the turkey. But he does prepare all the meats himself, which I love for him to do (it gives me a break). The only way he helps when I cook inside is to order what he wants to eat. He usually suggest a couple things a week that he would like, which is fine with me. I like a variety of dishes. But it does get so hard with the same thing - pork, chicken, beef, seafood.

So my menu this week is:

Monday - white beans, rice, thin boneless seasoned pork chops pan cooked with onions, cornbread (in fact I already had my beans in the crock pot and then sat down to read your blog and found out I had to make my own menu anyway, haha) (I really like really good seasoned white beans)

Thursday - Steak on grill, potatoes, salad, rollsFor these potatoes I use irish potatoes, wash well and scrub, cut into quarters or sixths (depending on size), with peeling left on, salt, pepper, and any other seasoning to your taste, 1 tbls water, and slap slices of butter around on top. Cover and cook in microwave for 20 minutes. Taste like baked potato, but less time.

Friday, November 7, 2008

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14 NRSV

Would you change the way you live if you knew that every word and thought would be examined by God first? David asks that God approve his words and thoughts as though they were sacrifices brought to the altar. As you begin each day, determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think.Ask for God's help in controlling what you say.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

I've made my list, checked it twice, and hope I get each one something that's just right.

First I want to make my Christmas budget really work. To do this I will

do a little "window" shopping and browsing to get some gift ideas and price comparisons.

also go early (and I mean like 5 AM or before) on the Friday after Thanksgiving sale day just in case I come across that special something for that special someone at a very special price.

include handmade items for some of my gifts.

give a monetary gift so that special someone can get something they always wanted.

remember that it doesn't have to be a bought gift, but a gift of action can be a blessing to someone.

Besides the gathering of gifts for my list, I also love the wrapping of each gift. I could sit all night in the middle of the floor with paper, scissors, tape, ribbons, bows, boxes, etc. and wish it would never end. (yes I am strange.)

Our family traditions for our immediate family is always special. Now that the children are grown, married and own their own, we have to kind of add and change a few things. But we are always together on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and spend time with extended family. We draw names now and put our names in as well, so the kids are not bombarded with having to buy gifts for 2 sides of their new familes. That's how I want it. The best gift I could receive from my children is for us just to all be together for a special moment to share in the Christmas spirit, enjoy a Christmas feast, read the Christmas Story and to share our blessings with others. (Of course, as the mom that I am I will have each one a special gift just for him/her from mom/dad.)

Some things we did when the kids were little were Christmas Caroling with our church, Christmas plays at church and school, Nativity scenes, nursing home and shut in visiting and taking small gifts or food, town Christmas parade where we would either be in the parade or a spectator, and that special day of going to get our Tree and decorating it. These were just simple tasks to do to help others have a joyful Christmas too.

But most important, we focus on the Reason for the Season. Because of God's Gift to us, the birth of His Son, are we able to celebrate.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I love taking a quick evening stroll. I am a fast walker so it becomes my exercise and a way to just release all the pinned up energy and stress and it relieves my boggled mind. But I have changed my evening walk to a morning walk because with the time change it's gets too dark too early to take my walk after I get home.

This morning it went like this:

6:15 - I am ready and am getting Poochie ready with her leash. If I don't take her she will bark the entire time I am gone and when I get back it will be a disaster waiting for me - chewed up paper, socks, shoes, etc. ( she has now chewed the corner of one of the bed shams and has torn a sofa pillow in shreds with white stuffing found everywhere).

6:25 - Out the door, hollering at Poochie to wait, and we here a snort, snort and then rustling in the leaves. Then we see the quick flash of 2 deer running away. These pictures are ones we took with our camo digital electronic camera that you hide in the woods and it takes pictures by motion detection.

So I'm using these pictures we had already taken because I did not have my cell phone camera with me. And of course by the time I could snap it they would be gone.

6:30 - So I go down the beaten path which I have made into my walking track, and I tripped over something and down on the ground I rolled. And I seemed to have rolled and tumbled a few feet or so away. You know the feeling when your going down and you just can't stop? Well that's what it was like. I had let go of Poochie's leash and she was way gone. But when I sat up and kind of laughed at my self and fussing at myself for getting dirty, Poochie must have heard me because she ran back to me as if to see if I was ok.

6:45 - I gave up and went back to the house to get ready for work again!

Monday, November 3, 2008

I've spent some time sewing up some table runners and place mats. I came across a great fabric store with an abundance of fabric in any texture and color you could imagine and so many trims, beads and stuff. And the price you would not believe.

This I call a winter wonderland table runner. It's white/cream with just a touch of green and burgundy large flowered pattern, lined with a satiny fabric and tassels on the end.This is sleigh bells table runner. It's a pretty green with golden cream swirls. It's not lined but has 2 rows of cream glass beads.This is green, cream and burgundy patterned kind of a soft chenille like fabric.I haven't made anything with it yet.I want to make some more so this week I'm going back to pick out some more fabric and trim. They are quick and easy. They will look great for Christmas use even though they are not a holiday pattern. They can be used throughout the year for that special look on your table. Some of you out there may be getting one of these for an early Christmas gift!

I just have to throw in this picture. While taking the table runner pictures on my dining table, this is the view from my dining room window - a pink rose bush planted at the end of the house. It has just exploded over the last 2 years. We built a heavy duty trellis to hold it. It just blooms and blooms and blooms. It was a cutting I took from my grandma's house like 10 years ago. When we moved here I brought a few cuttings from where I had originally planted it at our other house. This is sitting at the dining table, looking out the window down the driveway.gin

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About Me

. . . happy life, happy wife, mom and maw-maw, a heart for family fur babies, a sister to many, a daughter, and a child of the King. I love outdoors and doing a little sewing, crafting and making a house a home.